[S+ Rank Item, Awakening Stone]
It was a short name.
The description was also brief.
— Description: It can awaken an ordinary person as a Hunter. However, their rank cannot exceed B-rank.
While it had the limitation of being capped at B-rank for life and the disadvantage of stats and abilities being left to luck, it was still incredible for an ordinary person to awaken at all.
I paid the large sum of 3,500 coins without hesitation.
Today was a day where I had obtained an Intermediate Elixir and received many donations from the Constellations. I could certainly afford this much.
I looked at Kim Cheol-ho. He was a man who deserved respect.
His overly kind nature was a flaw, but he was a man with many more strengths. He had lived an altruistic life, always thinking of others before himself even when he was in difficult situations. That was likely why he couldn’t accept money even if someone offered to lend it to him — his heart couldn’t bear the burden of the debt.
Furthermore, his character was evident in the business he wanted to challenge himself with.
His goal wasn’t to create items for Hunters that everyone was jumping into, but to create items for porters.
Porters were essentially a profession that faced neglect and contempt. While it was a job that not just anyone could do, requiring a foundation of physical stamina, strength, and a fair amount of intelligence…
‘The employer of a porter is a Hunter, so they face a lot of abuse of power.’
Sometimes they were even assaulted inside dungeons. After all, there were no CCTV cameras in dungeons.
Since I had been a porter myself, I couldn’t help but support him with all my heart for thinking about the convenience of such people.
Yes, I had already made up my mind. I was going to turn this man into a Hunter.
“Jin-woo, did you say you were a porter too?”
“Yes. Now I’m an A-rank Hunter.”
“Whoa… really?”
“For real?”
“Mr. Jin-woo, is that true?”
“Brother, are you serious? A real A-rank Hunter?”
“My daddy is the strongest!”
Byeol, who had been playing with friends her age, suddenly ran over and spoke proudly. I smiled and nodded.
“I used to be a C-rank Hunter, and I worked as a porter back then. Now, I’ve practically retired from being a Hunter and I’m just traveling.”
“Kuh — ! What an enviable life. To have power, strength, and a relaxed lifestyle.”
“President Bak, everyone has their own struggles,” Kim Cheol-ho said, rebuking President Bak before pouring questions out to me.
Having received a barrage of questions, I gave him all the answers with a smile.
“Usually, to make equipment for porters… you’d have to use mana stones. The cost will naturally become very high.”
“Well… that’s true. Right now, I have absolutely nothing. Still, if I give up a little bit of the margin and sell them at a low price, wouldn’t I make a name for myself among porters?”
“That would definitely be the case.”
If products for porters were released to the world, every porter would be moved. Even if the price was a bit high, they would become essential items purchased for work efficiency and safety.
Furthermore, guilds that hire porters might even use specialized porter items separately.
“I have an acquaintance who makes weapons like those and distributes mana stones and item-type minerals.”
(The Final Blacksmith): You must be talking about my disciple.
That’s right.
Brother Sang-ho.
He was one of the few people who knew my true identity. He was someone who knew it in great detail, at that.
I called Sang-ho immediately.
— Mr. Jin-woo!
He spoke playfully with a drawl.
Since he had become the disciple of the Final Blacksmith, Yulian, and was now highly successful thanks to me, he was a man who expressed his gratitude every day through texts and calls. I quite liked that about him.
Regardless, I told him the story about Kim Cheol-ho. About his life and the business he dreamed of.
— …Really? That sounds really, really good.
He spoke as if he liked Cheol-ho’s business plan very much. Perhaps kind people just clicked with each other; thinking about it, the two had many similarities.
‘Family-oriented, kind, and having a similar business direction.’
I connected Sang-ho and Cheol-ho. The two of them talked on the phone late into the early hours of the morning about this and that. In the meantime, I talked about childcare with the other guests.
It seemed… everyone thought I was a single father.
‘I can’t exactly correct them, since it’s true in a sense.’
I could do nothing but nod in silence.
*****
Despite the late hour, Cheol-ho talked deeply with Sang-ho for a long time. Even though it was a business that was currently only an idea and couldn’t be put into practice yet, Sang-ho listened to his plans seriously. Sang-ho even went so far as to suggest collaborating with his company.
Sang-ho was more sincere than anyone. To begin with, Jin-woo was his benefactor. Thanks to him, he had become the incarnation of a Constellation, gained fame, and become the most famous blacksmith in Korea.
Furthermore, his company had grown steadily and had now reached the point where it could be considered world-class.
When Sang-ho heard Cheol-ho’s plans and even offered support for the collaboration, Cheol-ho felt as if he had found a lifeline. At this moment, his instincts were telling him. He had to accept this help; if he let this go, he would truly be a fool.
“But I’m just an ordinary person who hasn’t awakened a trait.”
— well… that’s true. In that case, you just need to hire Hunters.
However, it wasn’t as easy as it sounded. A CEO who only knew how to manage wasn’t the style Cheol-ho wanted.
He needed to be able to at least experience and understand how the supplies he made were utilized, what their strengths and weaknesses were, and how they were used in the field.
First, he set a meeting date with Sang-ho and then returned to the restaurant.
That was when Jin-woo shook his hand and rubbed a very small stone against it. A small stone shaped like a paperclip.
No one knew that this tiny stone had the incredible ability to awaken an ordinary person. No, Cheol-ho didn’t even know there was a stone in Jin-woo’s hand when they shook.
It was then.
[Congratulations! You have awakened!]
Having received the power of the Awakening Stone, Cheol-ho had awakened.
His Awakening Rank was C-rank. Furthermore, his trait was not for combat, but the rare Blacksmith trait.
In other words, like Sang-ho, he had gained a blacksmith trait — as a Hunter who could create items that added certain abilities using mineral materials like mana stones.
(Anonymous 1): He’s lucky.
(God of Rain and Sunlight): To get a trait like that immediately… meeting Jin-woo today was a stroke of heavenly luck for that fellow.
(Warrior of Death): His past good deeds must be coming back to him. I haven’t seen many people receive unconditional happiness in direct proportion to what they’ve given… but most eventually get rewarded.
(Endless Waiting): True, just as we met Jin-woo.
(Returnee from the Underworld): It seems that way.
(Liberated Swordsman): Indeed.
(Water Deity of Cheongha): Hehe, I suppose so.
(Final Chef): It’s a shame it wasn’t a cooking trait.
(The Final Blacksmith): I’ll mention it to my disciple beforehand. I’ll tell him to take good care of Cheol-ho.
(Father of Crops): A shame it wasn’t a farming trait.
(Anonymous 1): You guys are starting again.
The Constellations smiled proudly along with Jin-woo.
Cheol-ho looked at Jin-woo.
Sometimes there is a sense that flashes like instinct. It’s hard to explain in detail, but it’s just something felt instinctively. Cheol-ho was feeling that now.
Without even realizing it, he felt that all of this was thanks to Jin-woo. Everything had started working out the moment he met Jin-woo, right when nothing else was going right.
Was it because he was a Hunter who could use superpowers? Or was it because his rank was A-rank, which was rarely seen?
It was impossible to know.
He decided to trust his intuition. He approached Jin-woo to express his gratitude.
“Thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything. You’re just receiving back the kindness you’ve shown until now, Brother.”
“…Thank you for saying that. I want to believe that things are going well because you listened to my story so well, Jin-woo. Would that be okay?”
“I’d be grateful for that. I hope your days are always filled with twice the happiness you’ve given to others.”
Cheol-ho realized those weren’t just words of politeness. There was the power of sincerity in Jin-woo’s voice.
He didn’t know if it was because Jin-woo had met many different people while traveling for a long time, or if it was because he had many painful memories. Either way, he liked that he could feel the sincerity in every word.
*****
As soon as Cheol-ho went home, he announced his awakening. He also told his family everything he had hidden from them until now.
He started by saying how hard it had been and how he had struggled alone but would now lean on his family. He then reassured them that there was no need to worry because he had awakened and met good people.
His family empathized with his situation and feelings, offering him comfort. His son did not say he would quit music because the family’s situation was difficult.
Because he truly empathized with his father’s heart, he was able to say this:
“I want to keep doing music. Please let me. I’ll succeed and pay you back.”
Cheol-ho’s son knew that his father had hidden how difficult things were because he was afraid his son would quit music. That was why he stubbornly insisted on continuing. He truly wanted to keep doing it, and he knew better than anyone that this would put his father’s mind at ease.
Noticing his son’s heart, Cheol-ho smiled brightly.
Since a loan would be available as soon as he registered as a Hunter, he planned to take that loan first and then learn about the Blacksmith trait under Sang-ho.
He would start a company and maintain a business relationship with Sang-ho’s company. Just imagining it made him happy. As soon as the next day came, he rushed to Seoul to meet Sang-ho and immediately began learning blacksmithing techniques.
The two, who became close in an instant, began to seriously think about items for porters.
In particular, Sang-ho had been told by his master and Constellation, the Final Blacksmith, to take good care of Cheol-ho. He treated Cheol-ho with the utmost sincerity.
‘Jin-woo… thank you.’
Cheol-ho sent his thanks to Jin-woo in his heart.
He had heard from Sang-ho that he had received a lot of help from Jin-woo. He could feel that he was receiving such precious treatment from Sang-ho because of the relationship between those two.
Living a good life until now was truly being rewarded like this. He felt that he had lived that way specifically to meet a benefactor like Jin-woo. It was a day that made such thoughts come to mind anew.
*****
The next day, I smiled when I saw the text saying that Cheol-ho and Sang-ho had finished the provisional contract related to the company.
It was good to see things working out well.
Today, I plan to head over to Gyeongju. Since I’ve enjoyed everything there is to enjoy in Andong, it’s about time to move on. Since Gyeongju is also a city of great historical value, there will be plenty to see. I was contemplating what to see first when…
(Anonymous 1): I don’t care about that!
(God of Rain and Sunlight): Open the reward!
(Endless Waiting): Right now!
(Water Deity of Cheongha): I’m curious!
(Returnee from the Underworld): Open it quickly!
(Liberated Swordsman): Please, Jin-woo!
(Father of Crops): Just go farming.
(Final Chef): Cooking is fine too.
(Warrior of Death): Everyone is insane.
(Anonymous 1): Open it quickly! What are you doing?
(God of Rain and Sunlight): I said I’m curious! Don’t stall!
(Anonymous 1): *Gah — !* If you don’t open it quickly, I’m going to poop my pants!!
Fine, let’s open the reward like the Constellations said.
Flash — !
The moment I opened the reward, I could feel it.
The rewards for the ‘Path of the Constellation’ quest were… truly the best.
‘It was worth spending 3,500 coins.’
I smiled broadly.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.